We’ve been lucky so far this year. While unusually cold, the sun has come out – if not all day long, at least for a while every day. Seeing the blue sky and sun makes this time of winter here in Malmö more bearable. Yesterday, right about the time when I took this photograph, I spoke with Nolle, an old friend and colleague from when I was working/skiing/painting/partying in Riksgränsen, Lapland (1989-1993). Nolle, who has lived in Kiruna for a long time, told me that yesterday, the temperature there was a whopping −25 °C (−13 °F). We spoke of old times, old friends, the trepidations and joys of growing older, and that keeping fit is important for all kinds of good reasons. I kept that in mind this morning when I reluctantly woke up at 5:30, got dressed, and dragged myself to the gym for an hour-long workout. My third this week.